[djstoner]

The usual disclaimer of 'first time post' applies.  Actually, my first story.  Anywhere.  Ever. Hope you like.

The Monkey's Paw

It was the second Friday of the month.  Not that it meant much to the rest of the world;  but Josh always looked forward to second Fridays.  As he casually walked toward his car, he mused to himself that, if he had a social life, he might actually feel the weight of his obligations that night.  No doubt the other kids in his small circle of friends would be partying before the sun rolled beneath the plains.  But Josh was somewhat of a loner in his group, and as such he didn't always feel the need to drink away the weekend like his com-padres.  "I sure wouldn't mind a beer or two, tonight, though," he thought with a wistful smile.
His reverie was ended as he brought his keys to the door (his '69 Nova, though his pride and joy, didn't afford him the luxury of the electronic lock… or A/C, or a decent stereo, for that matter).  Before he could climb in, he heard his name shouted from across the lot – Steve, his closest friend since junior high was running his way.
"Weren't planning on leaving without me, were you?"  Steve's face was red as he huffed his complaint.  "Damn, dude, I ran all the way here from Biology.  I knew you'd forget."
"Shit, it completely slipped my mind.  Good thing you caught me in time."  Josh knew he'd been forgetting something.  Earlier that day, his friend had asked for a ride, saying something about having something to show him.  He chalked it up to his pre-occupation with that night.
"No worries, Josh – if there's one thing I've come to count on, it's your short-term memory," said Steve as he hopped in the passenger side.  As Josh started the car, he was fumbling around in his bag, looking for something.  "Ah, here we go," he grinned as he pulled out what seemed to be a small severed hand attached to a square, wooden base.  Josh immediately placed it as the 'Monkey's Paw' from his World History teacher's shelf.  Mr. Marcus had an odd collection of trinkets and props that represented myth and folklore, which he often used in his lesson plan.  This particular piece was once nestled directly behind his desk, on a shelf with similar grotesque objects.
"Holy shit!  I can't believe you snagged it!  How'd you pull it off?" Josh asked, equally astonished at his friends bravado and curious of the stolen appendage.
"I grabbed it when I handed in my homework at the end of class.  Anyway, I've already got my shock-value out of it when I put it in Jessie's locker – I figure it's compensation for the ride," Steve said as he carefully placed it on the Nova's dashboard.  He tried to curl the fingers down for a middle-finger pose, but they simply sprang back up into their original position.  He stopped trying for the joke when they pulled into his drive.
"You coming out tonight, man?  I hear there's gonna be kegs at Austin's place!" Steve asked as he jumped out.
"Can't, man.  My neighbors are going out of town tonight, remember?  I'll be baby-sitting Allie all weekend."
"Bummer.  Well, see you Monday, then.  Later."
Allie Johnson.  She was the girl next door, in every sense of the word.  She and Josh had been neighbors since she was born (she was fourteen, just two years younger than he was).  Her parents had watched them both mature as they grew up together, and felt comfortable enough with him to ask him to stay with her every second weekend, when they would go out of town on business.  What business, Josh never knew, exactly.  Just that they left Friday evening and didn't get back until Monday morning.  He thoroughly enjoyed these weekends, as Allie was like a little sister to him.  She was also incredibly cute; with short hair and a face full of freckles, and a lean body shaped by years of gymnastics.  Josh was always aware that she would turn out to be a painfully beautiful woman.
It also meant that he had an excuse to get out of his house for a full three days.  Josh lived with his mom, who was living off of a large disability settlement and hadn't so much as left the house in close to three years.  She barely noticed his presence, anyway, and he secretly thought that he owed the Johnson's more for raising him than his own mother.
As he pulled the car into the garage, he got a chuckle out of the thought of surprising Allie that evening by hiding the Monkey's Paw in the fridge, or perhaps under her pillow.  He dropped it in his backpack and headed over to the Johnson's for the customary family dinner before the house was his and Allie's for the weekend.
Allie opened the door when he knocked, as she usually did, and gave him the usual bear-hug squeeze that he always over-reacted to.
"Mom and Dad left early tonight, but the food's in the kitchen when you're ready for dinner."
"Thanks, squirt.  Say, which movie do you want to watch first tonight?" Josh asked, already knowing the answer.  Every month, they would each rent a movie to watch that night, and every month hers was always first.
Allie, however, had a much different plan for this evening.  "Let's watch yours," she said as she bounced onto the couch and turned on the TV.
"Okay, but first, I'm going to go make us some dinner.  I'm starving."  Josh said, and wandered into the kitchen.
As soon as he was out of sight and earshot, Allie bent over the couch to where he had set his backpack.  From under the seat cushion, she brought out an envelope that contained a letter she'd spent the better part of two weeks writing and re-writing.  Unbeknownst to Josh, Allie had developed a titanic crush on him over the years; and she prepared to enter her teens in earnest, her feelings had deepened into lust.  She'd been devising a way to tell him, and decided that a letter was best.  That way, if her feelings weren't reciprocated, he could just pretend he'd never received the note.
However, as she was trying to covertly place the note into his bag, her hand brushed up against something strange.  She grabbed the object of her curiosity and made a face when she saw what it was.
"Didn't figure Josh to be superstitious.  Oh well, can't hurt to try." she thought as she held the Paw at arm's length and concentrated:
"I wish I were Josh's fantasy come to life – that way I could tell him how I really feel and I'd know he would feel the same."
Nothing happened.  Allie smirked at herself and placed the Paw back into his bag, along with the note.  From the other room, Josh called, "Dinner's ready!"
"Coming!"

Later that evening, they were both lounging on the couch, watching Josh's movie pick (something with a few more explosions than Allie preferred), when her stomach suddenly lurched.  She let out a cry of surprise and pain.
"Are you okay?" Josh asked.
"Yeah, my stomach just hurts.  Maybe it was the spaghetti?"
"If it was, I don't feel bad." Josh replied.
"Well, it's gone now.  Maybe it was – " Allie was cut short as another spasm took her breath away.  It felt like an explosion in her stomach.  As she grabbed her knees to her chest, Josh became concerned. 
Inside his bag, one of the long, sinewy fingers began to curl…
As Josh moved to comfort Allie, his hand stopped on her shoulder.  Something seemed… out of place.  His mind quickly snapped back to her discomfort as he felt her forehead.
"Jesus, Allie, you're burning up!  Maybe I should call a doctor…?"
Then, as suddenly as it happened, her pain subsided.  She felt her body cool down as the spasms became less intense.
"No, wait… I feel fine, now.  That was weird." she said.
"You're sure?" he asked.
"Yeah… it just.. went away."
She slowly sat back up and stretched.  Josh's eyes were slowly drawn to her arms.  Where he had his hand on her shoulder before now filled the short sleeve of her t-shirt.  And was that a vein?  Yes, there was definite musculature there in her arm.  Her body had always been sporty, but now, it looked… well, buff.  "I must just now be realizing it.  Maybe they upped her regimen at the gym…"  He was somewhat unsettled at this realization, and pardoned himself to the bathroom.
Josh ran some cold water and splashed his face.  He'd known two years ago that his deepest fantasies were of muscular women.  Seeing Allie like that had triggered something in him.  Could he think of her that way?  No, no.  She was two years younger, not to mention almost a sibling.  But still…
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Allie scream out from the living room.
As he rushed in, a strange sight met his gaze.
Allie was on the floor on her hands and knees, and seemed to be in even more pain this time.  But what was odd was the fact that her arms were now no doubt laced with muscle.  Josh rationalized that she must be flexing reflexively… but then he heard a rip, followed by another, followed by another.  The stitching on her sleeves was giving way, peeling back as hard, ripped shoulders pushed through the fabric.
"Josh… I think..ugh..I'm having..err..an allergic reaction..AHH!"
The growth hit a new peak, as Josh stood frozen; transfixed.  Her back was slowly spreading out in all directions – her traps rising like twin steel balloons as they ripped the neckline of her shirt, her lats pushing against the back of her shirt until there was now room left.  The side-stitching started to zipper down her shirt as her back took on new dimensions.  Her shoulders had now completely shredded her sleeves, and as Josh's eyes moved down her arms, his jaw fell open.  Biceps and triceps fought for space on a completely separated, ripped arm that was becoming as large as a watermelon.  Thick cords intersected across her forearms, as more and more veins rose to the surface.  The pajama bottoms she was wearing were now beginning their own tearing process as thighs that would be more believable on a large horse burst through the thin cotton.  And her calves, they were almost as round as his head, and still she grew.  At this point, she would have been screaming, had her teeth not been clinched.  As her shoulders began to look as wide as his arm-span, the growth finally slowed.  With a few more pulses, her body took on an inhumanly developed, cut, and completely shredded look.  Her breathing slowed, but she stayed on all fours, teeth still clinched. 
Josh finally snapped to, and slowly made his way over to her.  "My god, are you okay?  Allie?  What happened?"  He put his hand on her shoulder for comfort, but was amazed at the sheer size and hardness of it – how he could feel every groove and striation…
Her eyes were still closed as she whispered, "Make me bigger."
The second long claw began to curl as the Monkey's Paw granted her wish…

[Hunter S Creek]

Cool story, djstoner.

Thank you for sharing.  Looking forward to more.

Tschuss!
Hunter

[Fonk]

That is one amazing story, dude. Keep up the great work! 😀

[David C. Matthews]

Uh oh… having read the original "Monkey's Paw" short story many many many years ago, I can't help but wonder what price the Paw is going to extract for granting these wishes… 😮

[Richard]

I was thinking the same thing myself.

[Tetsuko Fan]

I can't wait for the next part

[Axel3.14]

I too await the surely Damoclean fate of Allie.

[Max]

Definetly it looks like the beginning of a great story. Hope she doens't forget to reveal her feeling toward him before the last wish.

Keep up the great work.

Max

[Cowprobe]

I'm really digging the tune you're playing Djstoner!

Pack another fantasy into the blown glass pipe and smoke us out with your twisted musings  👿

If you can conquer the sudden loss of phantasmal intertia that FMG stories often get after the transformation scene then it's smooth sailing.

Can't wait to read the next installment.  😀

[Vic]

Okay djstoner, i'm hooked, keep on with it.

[Author]

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